A TEAM of young Darlington footballers will play in eye-catching new strips for the remainder of the season, thanks to a sponsorship deal with an opticians.

Mount Pleasant Rangers Junior Football Club under 12’s squad welcomed the partnership with Specsavers, in High Northgate, as the team had outgrown its old strips.

Gery Learmont, store director of Specsavers in Darlington, said: ‘We are thrilled to be part of the local community in Darlington so when we heard the team had outgrown their strips we thought it would be a great opportunity for us to step in and help them out.

‘We’re proud to get behind Mount Pleasant Rangers and support the great work they do for kids in the town. I’m sure the new strips will help inspire the team to succeed this season and next."

Craig Graham, chairman of Mount Pleasant Rangers, said: “We are very proud to have such a well-established business sponsor us.

‘We’re delighted to have Specsavers partner with us and we look forward to working together to help support the young players.”

The team play in Division three under 12’s League of the Teesside Junior Football Association. The club is hoping to expand their youth teams and involve more children from the local community.